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How to Enable Aero Glass Transparency with Blur in Windows 10?

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Here is an awesome news for Windows users who were eagerly waiting for the addition of Aero Glass transparency in Windows 10. Finally Microsoft has decided to bring Aero glass with blur back in Windows operating system.

If you can remember, long time back we posted an exclusive wishlist article in which we listed some most demanded features which Microsoft should implement in future versions of Windows:

[Wishlist] Features You Want to See in Next Windows Version

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I’m very glad to see that Microsoft is listening to our requests and implementing almost all those suggested features in Windows 10 operating system such as addition of Start Menu, removal of Charms Bar, etc. Aero Glass transparency was one of the most requested features in that article and finally Microsoft has added the missing functionality back to Windows 10 OS.

When Microsoft removed Aero Glass transparency from Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, people had to use 3rd party software as mentioned here to bring it back.

But Windows 10 users will not need to use any 3rd party software or customization mods to enjoy Aero Glass and blur effects. Windows 10 will already come with this much awaited functionality included.

BUT!!! Microsoft is currently testing Aero glass functionality in Windows 10. That’s why they have added the glass effect only to Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10:

Aero_Glass_Transparency_Blur_Windows_10_Start_Menu.png

Since the functionality is under testing, Microsoft decided to perform A/B test on it. In other words, 50% of Windows 10 users will get the new Aero glass transparency with blur effect in Start menu and Taskbar but remaining 50% will get standard transparency without glass and blur effects on Start menu and Taskbar.

It has been done for testing purposes and to get feedback from users which will help Microsoft in deciding whether to implement Aero glass and blur effects in other areas of UI such as window frames, titlebar, etc or not. Also it’ll help Microsoft in taking a big decision whether to set Aero glass transparency as default in Windows 10 or make it an optional feature.

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That’s a wise decision but many users who upgraded to Windows 10 and didn’t get Aero glass transparency and blur effects are feeling cheated.

Don’t worry! If you are using Windows 10 but not getting Aero Glass transparency with blur effect, this tutorial will help you in activating the feature.

Actually Microsoft is taking help of a simple Registry key to decide whether Aero glass and blur effects should be enabled or not in Windows 10. So we can modify this Registry key anytime to enable or disable Aero glass and blur effects in Windows 10.

Just follow these simple steps to activate and enable Aero Glass transparency with blur effect in Windows 10:

1. Type regedit in RUN or Start Menu search box and press Enter. It’ll open Registry Editor.

2. Now go to following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize

3. In right-side pane, look for a DWORD EnableBlurBehind. If you can’t find it, create a new DWORD, set its name as EnableBlurBehind and set its value to 1

Enable_Aero_Glass_Transparency_Blur_Windows_10.png

4. Close Registry Editor and restart, log off or restart Explorer as given here to take effect.

That’s it. It’ll enable the new Aero glass transparency with blur in Windows 10.

In future, if you decide to disable Aero glass, simply change value of EnableBlurBehind DWORD to 0 again.

So you see the availability of Aero glass transparency in Windows 10 is currently decided by the above mentioned DWORD in registry. If its set to 1, then you’ll get the glass and blur effects. If its set to 0, you’ll get normal transparency without glass and blur effects.

NOTE: If you are not familiar with registry editing tasks, we are also providing ready-made registry script to do the task automatically for your convenience. Just download following ZIP file, extract it and then run the given .REG files to enable/disable Aero glass and blur effects:

Registry Script to Enable/Disable Aero Glass Transparency with Blur in Windows 10

Also Check:

Collection of Windows 10 Hidden Secret Registry Tweaks

Published in: Windows 10

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

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Comments

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  1. Apparently this key is NOT available in the release version of Windows 10. Why Microsoft, why?

  2. This does work in release version.

    The registry Key isn’t there so just create a new DWORD key in the same location with the same name as in the tutorial above, set value to 1 and restart explorer. Presto

  3. Not working in Windows 10 final version. Or at least it doesn’t change anything. Final version comes with Aero and blur already installed but only for the start menu and task same as in the preview. the Dword key mentioned is not present in the final version. So not sure how it is turned on without it? In any case I added the Dword and set the value at 1 hoping I would get full Aero effect. But absolutely nothing changed. Still have only Aero in start and task. Not sure if changing it to zero in the string I created would make me lose it, since it was not there when i already had Aero.

  4. Have the release version of Windows 10.
    No Aero anywere.
    Tried using the key above in the registry.
    Did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

    And yes, I did it correctly.
    I’m very comfortable with the registry,
    and build my own computers.

  5. Hello, i have tried applying 1 value the DWORD EnableBlurBehind and restarted explorer.exe, but it didn’t have an effect except that i had problems accessing some settings
    i.imgur.com/TnEU96k.png
    May i know what’s the solution for this?, do i need to sign out/restart my computer to solve it?
    i tried applying the ready made registry file too both have the same result
    my windows version is Windows 10.0 (Build 10240) Pro

  7. This is old news. No, Microsoft did not “restore” AeroGlass to Windows 10, except to the start menu, which is just a tease. In fact, Microsoft took some other things away that I had to hack to get back, like the ability to have non-white Window captions (honestly! What was MS thinking?) and the ability to get back my old color selection dialog.

    There is a 3rd party web site that did a beautiful job with Aero for Windows 8.1, which I have on my other computer. Hopefully soon they’ll have a working version for Win 10. Just Google “Aero Glass for windows 10” and you should find it.

  9. Well, October 2015, I picked this up, and nope, it does nothing.
    Good old Microsoft – hack out the nice bits and leave us with a Windows 3 GUI!
    I’m not going to be “upgrading” from Windows 7 to 10, thanks all the same.

  10. this regedit works but the final couple steps are missing. after editing the registry you right click on the start menu and go to properties and customize start menu. then slide the sliders all the way left to go fully transparent. i leave it about two thirds of the way left on the start menu so you can stil read the text, but i select full transparency for the start menu.

  11. 04MAR16: aeroglass doesn’t work with th2 ‘insider’ builds, inc. the latest 14271, so far no word from developer on when he may have time to update it.

  12. Hello,
    Just checking into see if there is any further news on Aero Glass for Windows 10? It is now March 2016 – I tried 10 for one entire day and took my machine back to the Geek Squad and had it restored to 7 – I was so upset with not having Aero Glass on it. I will NOT upgrade to 10 unless we can have a working version of Aero Glass.

  14. I did everything as stated and restarted it three times and nothing. Then I downloaded your download and extracted it, ran it and allowed it to make the changes to my computer and it said the changes were successfully made. I restarted it and nothing. This doesn’t work.

  15. Um…when I go to the directory in regedit, it doesn’t say the item that you have to change to the value 1, it only shows:
    (Default) REG_SZ (value not set)
    ColorPrevalence REG_DWORD (1)
    EnableTransparency REG_DWORD (1)
    SpecialColor REG_DWORD (8421504)

  16. Same here, no key on release ver upgrade to 10 Pro, just the “Enable Transparency”. Really bites – Aero made the Win7 UI …. (post 8/6/16)

  17. DO NOT try this with the insider builds, at least not build 15019 as it loses your login info, and it doesn’t work anyway.

  19. this trick isn’t working. please tell me how I can transparent background of file manager everything in Windows 10

  20. I’m using Windows 10 version 1709 build 16299.15. By default, the transparency effects toggle found in [Settings > Personalization > Colors] is already on. So, without applying your registry tweaking method, I already get the transparent effects, although not as see-through as Windows 7’s aero. I thought by applying your method, it would increase the transparency, but when I did it, it’s not. The transparency level looks the same as before. I hope they would make the transparency more transparent, or put a slider to adjust the transparency level, on the next build or version.

  21. Wow, Microsoft didn’t pick me and your “trick” doesn’t work. I’m not even feeling comfortable doing stuff in the Registry Editor.

  23. As of 9/29/2018 – None of the tweaks works; regedit nor software download. Thank heaven my backup machine still has Win 7.

  24. Good to know aero is returning, but what about a new set of icons too, I felt more cheated by the icons than by the loss of aero.

  25. I have been using Windows 10 Build 1803. While following the instructions I have found that Microsoft has removed the DWORD for Blur Effect, and after using the registry that creates a new DWORD for the same there is no aero glass effect. I think that, there is now no setting, which would read this registry. It has been removed all-in-all it seems.

  27. I was also very sad the transparency effect is gone in Windows 10. I really enjoyed the outdated, obsolete looking interface of Windows 7. I was very disappointed when Windows 3.1 came out as well, because I hated not having to type every single command in MS-Dos anymore. Booo progress!

    I wish computers would have just gotten stuck in 1992. Why did we ever progress beyond that?

  28. 1/19/20, Win 10 Home, build 1909. No Aero and the above reg tweak (which did require adding the key) has no noticeable effect anywhere.

  29. Tried this apply and didn’t work so I deleted the registry. But now I’m unable to see my clock and date at the bottom right of the taskbar. It only shows when I move my mouse on the area where the clock is. Tried a different color for the taskbar but to no avail. Unfortunately I have no restore or backup available (I know, shame on me!) because I never set one up. Someone please help, thank you.

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